Eco-Friendly Solutions: How to Unclog a Drain Without Using Chemicals
One of those things that, if you hang around for things to get better, they only get worse is a clogged drain. The water sits there in your sink, draining slowly or not draining at all. And then it just sits there, still as a stone, staring at you, and you are staring at it, trying to determine what you are going to do about it. I know. Been there. Done that. More than once. When you have a clogged drain, the first thing you want to do is grab yourself a bottle of Drano or some other kind of drain cleaner and go to work on that clogged drain of yours. But what I have learned the hard way a time or two is that not only are these kinds of chemicals bad for your pipes and bad for the environment, but they may not even solve the clogged drain problem you are experiencing to begin with. It just makes it go away for a while until it clogs up again. But the good news is that most household clogged drains can be solved in 15 to 30 minutes without one single drop of any of those chemicals. I have used all these techniques myself, and I shall give you a genuine review of which ones really work and which ones can be skipped. The article discusses 5 techniques that are really helpful for clearing blocked drains. The techniques range from easy to difficult. The techniques are arranged from easiest to most difficult. You can begin with Technique 1 and move down the list until the water flows freely. Why Chemical Drain Cleaners Are Worth Avoiding I’m not saying that chemical cleaners don’t work sometimes. Sometimes they do. But I can give you three solid reasons why you should try physical cleaners first before resorting to a chemical like Drano. Key Insight: The American Chemical Society indicates that “the active ingredient in most drain cleaners is sodium hydroxide, also called lye.” This chemical may reach as high as 250 degrees F in the pipes. PVC pipes, which are most commonly found in today’s homes, begin to soften when they reach 140 degrees F. What You’ll Need You won’t need all of these for all of the methods. Just get whatever you can, and then follow along with the first method. Pro Tip: Get yourself a drain snake if you don’t already have one before you need it. The 20 dollar Cobra brand hand snake that you can get at Home Depot has cleared every clog that I have ever given it. It will save you money on calling a plumber the first time you need it. Method 1: Boiling Water First, boil water. This is free, only takes 2 minutes to do, and, believe it or not, often works for clogged kitchen sink drains caused by grease or soap scum. Boiling water is best for: Kitchen sinks with grease or soap scum buildups. Slow-draining sinks, but not totally clogged.Not best for: Bathroom drains with hair clogging them. Boiling water does not work for hair clogs. Safety Warning: Never pour boiling water into a porcelain sink or toilet, as the porcelain can crack. Pour slowly down the drain opening, not on top of the sink. Also, do not boil water for pouring into PVC pipes that are already damaged or are over 20 years old. Pro Tip: Add some dish soap to the clogged drain before pouring the boiling water down the drain. The soap helps dissolve grease clogs and washes them down the drain as the boiling water flushes through. Method 2: Baking Soda and Vinegar This is what everyone suggests, and it does, in fact, work. It does not, however, work for the reasons that most people expect it to. The fizzing action that occurs between the two, as they mix, does, in fact, help dislodge the blockage. It is, in fact, the hot water that rinses away the blockage. How to Do It Best for: partial clogs, slow draining, and overall maintenance. This is good to use on bathroom sinks and shower drains. Not best for: clogged drains with standing water. This is because the baking soda will not be able to go through the blockage. Key Insight: Baking soda and vinegar can also be used for your monthly drain maintenance. By pouring this mixture into your drains once a month, you are sure you will not be disturbed by a clog anytime soon. Five minutes of prevention will save you hours of repair. Method 3: The Plunger The best device for clearing a blocked drain is a plunger. The reason that most people assume that a plunger is not effective is that they are not using it correctly. A plunger is effective for clearing almost any type of clog that has not been caused by a solid object or a major buildup of material inside the pipes. First of all, be sure that you are using the right type of plunger. The flat-bottom cup type of plunger, the old-fashioned red rubber one, is for sinks and tubs. The flange type of plunger, with the extra lip of rubber, is for toilets. The wrong type of plunger means no suction at all. How to Use a Plunger Correctly Pro Tip: If you are having trouble getting the plunger to create suction, you can apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to the edge of the rubber cup. This will give you a better seal on the surface of the clogged drain, and it will make a world of difference in terms of suction power. Best for: fully blocked kitchen and bathroom sinks, bathtub drains. Most versatile.Not best for: clogs further down the pipes, as a plunger only works well on clogs near the surface of the drain. Method 4: The Drain Snake If the plunger does not work, then the drain snake will. This is the same method that professional plumbers use as their first
